The Irish Georgian Society is to receive a European award acknowledging its work for the preservation of historic monuments.
Next Saturday its president, Desmond Fitzgerald, the Knight of Glin, will receive the European Prize from the Alfred Toepfer Foundation of Hamburg on behalf of the society.
A member of the international award jury, Dr Klaus-Dieter Ebert, will present a gold medal to the society at a ceremony at 20 Lower Dominick Street, Dublin, an 18th century building which has been undergoing restoration in recent years aided by funds from the Irish Georgian Society.
The European prize was first established in 1973 to honour organisations which have made an outstanding contribution towards the conservation of architectural heritage in Europe.
In its citation to this year's recipient, the Alfred Toepfer Foundation states: "The award is designed to acknowledge the extraordinary merits of the Irish Georgian Society for the preservation of architectural heritage in Ireland. The society has managed to salvage many buildings and ensembles, and also influenced in an exemplary manner the development of both urban and rural architecture."
On hearing of the award the society's president commented that its presentation would "enthuse and encourage the many other NGOs and individuals dedicated to conservation."